How To Save Energy While Washing Clothes

How To Save Energy While Washing Clothes

At PointClickSwitch, we want you to get the most out of the money that you spend on your energy. That’s why we regularly offer tips, tricks and hacks for how to save energy on everyday activities and chores. Even routine household tasks like doing the laundry can add up on your electric bill. Here are some tips for how to save energy while washing clothes. Keep reading below for more details on each of these suggestions:.

Wash with cold water whenever possible.

Hand-wash what you can.

Use a faster spin cycle.

Reevaluate how your dryer uses energy.

Wash clothes less frequently and only run full loads.

Consider updating your washer and dryer.

Wash With Cold Water Whenever Possible

Whenever you can, wash your clothes on the cold cycle instead of warm or hot. Doing laundry with the warm and hot cycles can be an energy suck and will end up costing you money. Only use hot water occasionally for super-soiled items, or every now and then to keep your whites looking really white. Over the course of a year, the pennies you’ll save with each cold wash will really add up!

Hand-Wash What You Can

This tip may be hard to swallow, but it’s amazing how much money it will save you. We’re not suggesting washing towels or sweatshirts by hand, but consider what items you might be able to hand wash. Even just opting to wash your delicates by hand instead of running them through the delicate cycle will help you save energy, and will likely be gentler on your clothes. You might also opt to purchase a portable tabletop washing machine to help conserve water and save on electricity.

Use A Faster Spin Cycle

Washing your clothes on a faster spin cycle will pull more moisture from your clothing. This strategy will help you have on energy, because your dryer will run for a shorter time to dry and fluff your laundry.

Reevaluate How Your Dryer Uses Energy

In addition to your washing machine, your dryer also can be an energy soaker. Take a close look at the placement of the dryer in your home. You will save energy if the dryer exhaust doesn’t have to travel as far, so try to move your dryer closer to an outside wall. Another tip is to place your dryer in a warm area, like a heated basement, in order to reduce heat-up time. You might also opt to line-dry or air-dry your clothes. There are several styles of space-saving racks available, if you choose to line-dry indoors. Using your dryer less frequently will not only help save you money on energy, but it will also help reduce the wear and tear on your dryer. Lastly, when you do use your dryer, try to avoid over-drying your clothes. This will save wear and tear on your clothing, and will also save energy.

Wash Clothes Less Frequently And Only Run Full Loads

Not everyone will be fond of this suggestion, but if you really think about it, you’re bound to have some laundry items that don’t need to be washed after just one use. According to EnergyStar, the average family in the U.S. does 300 loads of laundry each year. Opt to reuse towels instead of washing them after one use, for example, or wear jeans two or three times before washing them. Reserving laundry use for only clothing that is actually dirty will make savings add up quickly. Another way to save on laundry energy cost is to only run full loads. Frequently washing or drying half loads is a waste of both water and energy.

Consider Updating Your Machines

If your washer and dryer are dated, it may be time to consider an upgrade. If you’re purchasing a new dryer, consider switching from electric to gas. The upfront cost may be a little higher, but you’ll save on energy costs in the long run. Energy-efficient clothes washers use around 10 gallons of water less per load than regular washers and also take about 25% less energy to run. Another tip is that that front-loading washing machines use significantly less water than top-loading machines, so this style provides even further savings on water and heating costs.